Samsung’s big, new 12.2-inch Android tablet gets certified

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It looks as though Samsung will soon add a new member to its Android tablet line-up. With 7, 8, and 10-inch slates already on the market, the next version may sport a 12.2-inch display.

The stretched-out slate recently checked in with the Bluetooth SIG bearing the model number SM-P901. That’s the same number that leaked earlier this year when talk of a new Samsung 12-incher heated up.

Big? Yes… but not crazy big. A 12.2-inch Galaxy Tab or Galaxy Note (depending on Samsung’s plans for the device) isn’t that much bigger that many Windows 8 hybrids. Samsung’s own Ativ Smart PC measures 11.6 inches along its diagonal.

Most reviews of the Smart PC said that it isn’t all that heavy — in fact it’s only around three ounces heavier than an iPad despite the larger display. If Samsung can build an 11.6-inch Atom-powered Windows 8 tablet, it should be able to stick pretty close to that with a 12.2-inch, Exynos-powered Android device.

The tablet’s width may require some getting used to. For example, you’ll probably want to switch to a thumb-friendly split keyboard layout on a tablet that measures somewhere around 12.7 inches wide. Still, if so many consumers liked the increased size of the original Galaxy Note, there’s no reason to think that they won’t be just as interested in a 12.2-inch tablet. At least that’s what Samsung is probably thinking.

The new Galaxy is going to be a solid performer, thanks to an Exynos 5 octa-core processor. The biggest selling point will likely be the 2560 x 1600 display it’s said to be packing. At 12.2 inches, that still works out to 247ppi — not quite as sharp as the iPad. Then again, you probably won’t ever hold the 12.2-inch Galaxy tablet close enough to your face to notice when you’re doing normal Android tablet things like gaming, browsing, or watching videos.